Strogoff
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| Poster Origin : | Poland |
| Poster Size : | Polish A1 / 594 x 841mm |
| Poster Artist : | Jerzy Flisak |
| Poster Year : | 1970 |
| Poster Version : | First Release |
| Film Origin : | Italy |
| Film Director : | Eriprando Visconti |
| Film Year : | 1970 |
Jerzy Flisak draws upon several motifs from the film, and all aspects of his layout earn their keep in another triumph of intelligent, economical design.
A simple galloping horse conjoined with the Imperial Standard of the Tsar embodies the Courier Strogoff, and the credits are fashioned into the likeness of a mailing envelope with elegant handwriting and circular postal stamp, gathering above in a cloud of political unrest. The mighty flash from the storm strikes the exposed figure as he tries to cross hostile territory. It bisects the page like a bloodied sabre, suggesting the conflict that threatens to divide the whole of Russia, east from west.
At least two-thirds of the page remain blank, but such flamboyant use of empty space is significant and justified, as it represents the vast Siberian wilderness and provides much of the poster’s visual clout. As is often the fate with obscure films, particularly non-English titles, this is an overlooked and underrated poster.